Now that the Sentinel-2C satellite has been fuelled, attention has turned to the ‘combined operations’ part of the launch campaign at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

This is where the satellite meets it’s Vega rocket.

On the rocket side, at the launch pad, the fourth stage has been fuelled.

Meanwhile, with the satellite waiting patiently in one cleanroom, the launcher team inspected the rocket fairing and launch adapter for cleanliness in another cleanroom, in preparation for activities to come.

Sentinel-2C ready to be mated onto the Vega launch adapter. (ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE/Optique vidéo du CSG–S. Martin)

Sentinel-2C ready to be mated onto the Vega launch adapter. (ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE/Optique vidéo du CSG–S. Martin)

In addition, the Satellite Flight Readiness Review meeting was held. This all-important meeting is to judge the overall readiness of the satellite to be integrated on the launcher, to confirm that the ground segment is also ready to safely operate the satellite and to ensure that the communication links between ESA’s mission control centre in Darmstadt, Germany, and the satellite at the Spaceport are operational.

The review was successful and authorised the satellite to enter the combined operations phase with the launcher.

This outcome supported a second meeting, the ‘BT-POC’ meeting, which is a technical check-point between the launcher and satellite authorities before the start of the combined operations. Readiness was confirmed on both sides meaning that the teams could move on joining the satellite to the rocket’s payload adapter.

Sentinel-2C next to the Vega launch adapter. (ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE/Optique vidéo du CSG–S. Martin)

Sentinel-2C next to the Vega launch adapter. (ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE/Optique vidéo du CSG–S. Martin)

Sentinel-2C being lifted onto the Vega launch adapter. (ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE/Optique vidéo du CSG–S. Martin)

Sentinel-2C being lifted onto the Vega launch adapter. (ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE/Optique vidéo du CSG–S. Martin)

Sentinel-2C on the launch adapter. (ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE/Optique vidéo du CSG–S. Martin)

Sentinel-2C on the launch adapter. (ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE/Optique vidéo du CSG–S. Martin)

Once the Sentinel-2C had been mated to the Vega launch adapter, the satellite was switched ON and checked through the adapter umbilical lines.

The rocket fairing, which protects the satellite during liftoff, was also inspected in preparation for encapsulation.

Read more about the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.